Beauty News Flash: The Loft by The Nail Library giveaway, free mini massages at Aveda, our fave products for spring and more

Lots of exciting things have been happening on the beauty scene in Hong Kong recently – so here’s a quick recap for any of my fellow make-up junkies…

THE LOFT BY THE NAIL LIBRARY OPENS – AND A SASSY GIVEAWAY

One of our favourite beauty finds last year was The Nail Library and their fabulous manis and pedis… so I have great news for those of you too busy (… or lazy!) to schlep it to Poho on a regular basis. Owner Ping has just added a new member to the family – The Loft by The Nail Library, a small but perfectly formed pampering palace that transports The Nail Library’s unique and chic vibe to an even more convenient location on Cochrane Street in Central.

The amazing treatments, meticulous service and relaxed loft-style atmosphere are all the same – except now you get an awesome view of the world going by on the escalators (it’s where Rabbithole Coffee used to be)! As with their big sister branch, The Loft carries what must be Hong Kong’s largest selection of nail polish brands, including the likes of NCLA, Deborah Lippmann, Tom Ford, Chanel, YSL and cult French eco-brand Kure Bazaar. “Trailing spouses”, there’s good news for you too, as The Loft will be introducing bespoke male grooming treatments, with hot towel wet shaves and men’s facials and massages on offer… so now the whole fam can get treated in style. We can’t wait to get our nails did at The Loft – the only problem is deciding which colour to pick…!

This Giveaway is now closed – SASSY GIVEAWAY: To celebrate their opening, we have ten regular manicures at The Loft by The Nail Library to give away – plus the lucky winners will also receive a complimentary set of NCLA nail wraps(which you can either have applied as your mani there and then or take home to DIY!). Simply fill out the form below to be in with a chance of winning:

Speaking of new stores, the recently opened Aveda Experience Centre at the T Galleria Sun Plaza in Tsim Sha Tsui caught my eye – primarily because of the rather nifty free mini services it offers! As we all know, shopping in TST can be stressful at the best of times, so why not take advantage of a few minutes of pampering bliss amidst pounding the streets and bagging those bargains?!

Here, you can snag a complimentary Aroma Sensory Journey, Stress Relieving Hand Ritual or Stress Relieving Neck & Shoulder Ritual(… or be cheeky and ask for all three!), where you’ll sample some of Aveda’s signature “Stress-Fix” products via mini massages – a sneaky five minutes of calm and serenity amidst the crazy hustle and bustle of Kowloon. And don’t forget, Aveda also offers complimentary skin and hair consultations, plus free cups of comforting tea too… reason enough to work a quick stop-off at Sun Plaza into any upcoming TST trips!

Unlike many rich moisturisers, this new Kiehl’s formula manages to feel really light and lovely, not at all oily, and absorbs super fast too; I honestly felt like I saw a difference in my skin after just a week after using the stuff – plumper, softer, smoother… the lot! Team it with even more products from Kiehl’s Ultra Facial range for even better results; the only catch is a lack of SPF, so remember to apply something else on top if you’re using this cream in the daytime. Otherwise, slap it on before bed and just reap the results!

We’re all used to the Spring/Summer previews for fashion… but what about beauty?! Thankfully, make-up maestros MAC were on hand with their SS14 trend presentation to give us the scoop on what we should be sporting cosmetics-wise this spring…

FACE: The MAC bods declared that it’s all about a fresh, au naturel “raw” look this season, enhanced with radiant highlighters and brightening bases. My favourite products for achieving this glowing “lit-from-within” complexion are MAC’s Strobe Cream or Giorgio Armani’s Fluid Sheer Radiant Pigment – two super subtle, shimmery fluids that you can simply mix into your everyday base to create a dewy natural glow. Similarly, heavy bases are out… go for something lighter and brighter that still offers medium coverage, like MAC’s Prep + Prime Beauty Balm or one of my all-time fave products, Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Fusion Makeup, which is so feather-light that you’ll barely remember you have anything on in the first place!

EYES: Sorry Alexa – apparently, the cat’s eye flick has had its day! This season, it’s all about a modern, more graphical eye look… OK, I’m yet to work out exactly how to interpret that (allegedly the way to go is either amp up the flick for a more dramatic shape, or go with a straighter, more simple line) but I have found the perfect product to make it happen! Shu Uemura’s Calligraph:Ink Liquid Eye Liner is ideal for those of us who are still slightly scared to wield liquid eyeliners, lest it looks like a squid had an accident on our faces! It’s super easy to control, boasts a fabulous intense black colour with just one swipe and is waterproof, sweat-proof and idiot-proof (OK, I added that last condition in!). Even niftier – it’s eco-friendly too, as you can buy cartridges to refill your original pen. Neat!

LIPS: There wasn’t much focus on lips at the MAC presentation, but the key takeaway was keeping it natural – enhancing shades you already find on your face as opposed to creating a whole new colour. After the Clinique Chubby Stick revolution, I am obsessed with all things crayon-shaped… and the latest to hit the scene are Sisley’s Phyto-Lip TwistLip Pencils. You know the score by now – comfortable, moisturising, lightweight, convenient and with a burst of radiant colour… why on earth didn’t we discover this whole crayon-lippie stuff sooner?! Sisley’s are even softer and more moisturising than the average lipstick, whilst the colour is thankfully way less intense on the lips than in the tube. The cherry on top of the cake? That awesome zebra-stripe print on the casing… Sold!

SCENT: I’ve covered every other bit of your body… so why not throw a nice spring scent in the mix too! Ever since their launch last year, I have been all over Crabtree & Evelyn’s Limited Edition Heritage Fragrance Collection – and they have some perfect perfumes for the season. Try the light and fruity Venetian Violet Flower Water if you’re a floral girl; if you prefer something a little more exotic, take a walk on the wild side with one of the eau de colognes like Hungary Water (an intoxicating blend of pink pepper, spearmint, cypress and geranium). What’s more, these beauties come in amazing old-school glass bottles with atomisers, encased within stunning printed boxes – you can bet they’ll look good on your make-up shelf, that’s for sure! In fact, they look so awesome we’re wondering if we can claim them as home décor items… that means we don’t have to feel so guilty about buying more than one, right?!